Parents & Family

Glossary

A

The semesters of Fall, Winter and Spring/Summer, in
that order, make up one academic year, roughly from late August to the early
part of the following August.

Academic Probation

Overall GPA for the semester of less than 2.0.
Financial aid recipients are required to pass 67% of all credits attempted.
Withdrawing or receiving less than a 2.0 may jeopardize future financial aid.

ACT

A nationally standardized test provided by American College
Testing (ACT) mostly to high school students to determine skills in English,
Math, Reading, and Scientific Reasoning. If students have a recent (within three
years) ACT score of at least 18 in Math, in Reading, and in English, they do not
have to take JC Course Placement. They may proceed with orientation and
registration.

Add

You can add a class without an instructor's written permission
during the first week, or about the first 5% of the class. In the second week,
you will need the instructor’s permission. The "Add/Drop 100% Refund" period is
the first 10% of the length of the class. For exact dates for your class, go to
e-Services. Choose on the “Drop Sections” link then the click on the link for
refund/drop dates.

Advanced Placement

Some institutions accept AP test results, taken
by high school juniors and seniors, for college credit. Policies vary from
college to college.

Associate Degree

Also called a two-year degree, consists of about 60
or more credit hours (about 20 classes) that follows a list of courses to take
(degree requirements). Few students complete this in two years. JC associate
degrees must all fulfill outcomes set by the Board of Trustees. Most students
planning to transfer work toward an Associate of Arts or an Associate of
Science.

Associate of Applied Science Degrees

These are specialized
associates that have specific skill sets as well as an array of general
education courses that fulfill the outcomes set by the JC Board of Trustees.
These usually do not meet MACRAO transfer requirements. Students wanting to
transfer after earning an applied science degree need to consult their transfer
college and advisors early to be sure of choosing classes that will best
transfer.

Associate of Arts

An associate degree that concentrates on social
science and humanities selections, allowing about 24 credits of elective
credits.

Associate of Science

An associate degree that concentrates on
science and math with about 24 credits of elective credits.

B

Bachelor’s Degree

Four-year colleges and universities grant
bachelor’s degrees, which are comprised of about 124 credits. Students can
transfer up to 60 credits from community colleges to count toward a bachelor’s
degree, with some exceptions. Always check with your transfer college for
admissions rules and consult JC Transfer Guides and academic advisors.

Basic Classes

See "Developmental Courses," "General Education," or
"MACRAO."

Billing Contact Hour

The actual time spent with the instructor in
class, plus scheduled times in labs and clinicals, over the course of the
semester. Tuition and technology fees are based on the number of Billing Contact
Hours. Billing hours are usually the same number as academic credits, but in
some cases are more. For example, a four-credit biology class with a lab is
usually five billing contact hours.

C

Catalog

Contains policy, degree requirements, course descriptions
and resource information for JC. A new catalog takes effect about every two to
three years. Each year the catalog maybe updated with a supplement that
announces any changes in degrees, programs or courses.

Catalog of Entry

The catalog current at the time you started at JC.
If you maintain continuous enrollment, you follow the requirements listed in
your Catalog of Entry, or a more recent catalog of your choice.

Certificates

College certificates are generally 30-50 credit hours
(about 10-16 classes) and concentrate on specific skills with few general
education courses.

Certifications

Some occupations as for about 12-20 credits (four to
six classes) taken in a very specific curriculum. These help the student toward
state licensing or other credentialing, and may count toward a certificate or
associate degree. Examples are Corrections Officer and Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT).

Class Schedule

The booklet printed, and posted on the web, each
semester listing details of when and where classes will be held for a specific
semester. The Class Schedule also summarizes key policies, lists Student Center
and Bookstore hours, and lists the calendar of important dates for the semester.

CLEP

"Collegiate Level Examination Program" provides a way for
students to place into more advanced classes and to receive credit. Policies
vary in institutions. JC's policy is listed on the web page with the transfer
information.

Course Section

The same course is offered at a variety of times.
Each of these classes has its own section number. For example MTH 110 section 12
might meet on Monday nights and MTH 110 section 13 might meet on Tuesday nights.

Credit by Exam

Some JC courses may allow you to earn credit by
testing out of the course. This credit may not count at other colleges. JC's
policy is listed on the web page with the transfer information.

Credit Hour

Academic credit based on the time spent in class.
Roughly, a three-credit class means you spend 3 hours a week in class with an
instructor over the length of the semester.

Continuous Enrollment

Registered for at least one class in any
semester during an academic year: Fall, Spring or Summer.

Co-requisite

A class that must be taken at the same time as another
particular class because of the relationship of materials. Often this is a lab
or discussion group. Be sure to look in the co-requisite column in the Class
Schedule or in the Course Description listed in the Catalog.

Course Placement

An assessment at JC to determine your need for
further preparation for college-level work. If you do not have recent ACT scores
of 18 or higher in Math, Reading or Writing, or if you do not have previous
passing college grades, you will be asked to complete Course Placement prior to
enrolling in academic courses for grades. We also accept SAT scores. For high
school guest students we use PLAN, PSAT, and Explore.

D

Developmental Courses

Your success at college classes depends upon
your entry level skills at reading, writing and mathematics. Your need for
developmental courses is identified by your Course Placement results.
Developmental courses (ENG 090, 080, 085 and MTH 095 or ) do not count toward
college degrees as they are considered preparatory.

Dropped

To un-register from a class after you have registered for it
and the class has started. Dropping a class before the "Add/Drop Period" for
100% refunds does not affect your transcript. Withdrawing after this 100% refund
period leaves a W (Withdrawal) on your permanent transcript record.

E

Electives

Some degrees offer you options as to classes you can take
that aren't listed specifically in the requirements. Read the degree
requirements carefully. Some degrees restrict your elective choices to specific
types of courses.

F

FAFSA

This Free Application for Federal Student Aid is a federal
form that must be filled out and mailed or completed over the Internet. We
recommend completing this at least four to six weeks prior to the beginning of
your first semester. It must be renewed each year. File your renewal by April 1
of each year for the best chance at federal and state funds for the following
Fall semester.

FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974
provides: Protection of a student's right to privacy of information that JC has
in its possession concerning the student; and, a reasonable guideline for
release or disclosure of such information as is required by federal and state
law and as is necessary for the effective functioning of the College.

G

General Education

A variety of courses that the JC faculty and
Board of Trustees believes is necessary to be well-rounded, educated citizens
who can think critically, express themselves clearly, and learn continuously in
an ever-changing and challenging world. General education disciplines are:
English, mathematics, science, social science, humanities, and health/physical
fitness. Also see MACRAO.

GPA

Grade Point Average, based on honor points earned divided by the
number of credits.

H

A hold on your record falls into several categories. In some
cases, a hold can prevent you from registering. Contact Student Services to help
figure out why you have a hold and how to clear it.

Library – you need to return materials or pay fines.

Academic – your GPA is under 2.0 or you don't pass 67% of your attempted
credits.

Business Office – for students who owe money to the college or have
defaulted.

Dean – students who have been dismissed from the college for violating
college policies about student conduct.

Financial Aid – Warning holds flag students who have not met the academic
requirements for their financial aid. Financial Aid students may also have a
probationary hold or a suspension hold.

Verification of Program of Study – Each year all students receive this hold.
You need to update your program of study, by phone, fax, mail, in-person or on
the web. Data that we report to the federal and state government requires that
we provide accurate program information.

Honor Points

Honor points are figured by multiplying the grade
earned in the class by the number of credit hours.

L

Lower Division

courses at community colleges, which provide mostly
100 and 200 level courses as noted by the course numbers (such as ENG 131 and
MTH 251), are considered freshman and sophomore level, or lower division.

M

MACRAO

This acronym stands for the Michigan Association of
Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Articulation Agreement. The MACRAO
helps students transfer from Michigan community colleges into fou-year colleges
and universities by providing an agreed upon assortment of classes to take that
fulfill general education requirements toward a bachelor’s degree.

O

Official Transcript

The copy of your transcript that is issued and
mailed directly from one institution to another. JC accepts only official
transcripts for evaluating transfer credit. (See also Student Issued Transcript
and Transcript.)

P

Pre-requisites

Certain college courses need a certain level of
skills or knowledge as you begin the class in order to succeed in the class.
Talk with the instructor or an advisor to see if you meet the pre-requisites.
These are also listed in Course Descriptions in the Catalog and at the end of
each discipline listing in the Class Schedule.

Program of Study

Basically, the degree or certificate you are
working on becomes your program of study. If you are planning to transfer to a
four-year institution, your program of study might be listed here as a transfer
program, such as education or psychology.

R

S

Schedule

See "Class Schedule."

Scholarships

Money made available students based on academics,
program of study or financial need. Scholarships are not paid back and usually
have conditions the student must maintain. For example, departmental scholarship
recipients must carry at least 12 credits and maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.

Student Issued Transcript

You may print a copy of your transcript
from e-Services or request a copy. If you request a copy from us, it will be
printed on official transcript paper and stamped with “Issued to Student.��� Most
transcripts that are sent to other institutions to transfer credit need to be
official, not student-issued. When you send us a request for a transcript, be
sure to include who needs to receive it. (See also Transcript).

Syllabus

A document from an instructor containing a course outline,
assignments, attendance and grading policies, and office hours. The syllabus is
usually handed out to students on the first day of class.

T

Transcript

Your legal and historical record of courses attempted and
completed along with all grades. Transcripts may not be changed unless there has
been a clerical error. You may request a transcript for your own use or have
official copies sent to other institutions or employers by contacting Records &
Registration. (See also Official Transcript and Student Issued Transcript.)

Transfer

Moving the credits earned at one college to another in
order to complete a degree or certificate.